(CNN) - When lawmakers of both parties raised their glasses in toast of President Barack Obama at a Capitol Hill luncheon Monday, House Speaker John Boehner remarked that the room, with its poor acoustics, had been the House chamber many decades earlier - "at a time when our leaders weren't hearing each other all that well to begin with."

"But here, it's a century-and-a-half and many architectural improvements later, and we gather in the old hall to better hear one another and to renew the appeal to better angels," Boehner said. "We do so amid the rituals and symbols of unity, none more important than our flag," he continued, giving Obama and Vice President Joe Biden the flags which had earlier in the day flown over the Capitol.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) – It was President Barack Obama's final oath, final inauguration speech and final look out over the sea of people heralding the start of his second term.

As Obama walked up the steps leading back into the Capitol Building, he stopped, turned and paused, looking back out over the National Mall where hundreds of thousands of his supporters stood waving flags.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - A day after formally beginning his second term, President Barack Obama on Monday takes part in the full trappings of his inauguration by reciting the oath of office in front of a crowd expected to number between 800,000 and 900,000 people.

The nation's first African-American president also will become only the 17th U.S. leader to deliver a second inaugural address before leading the traditional parade up Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.

Watch CNN's comprehensive coverage of President Barack Obama’s second inauguration on CNN TV and follow online at CNN.com or via CNN’s apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. Follow our real-time Inauguration Day live blog at cnn.com/conversation. Need other reasons to watch inauguration coverage on CNN's platforms? Click here for our list.

Last week, the Seattle-area couple, along with many others, were shut out of the first-come, first-served official Presidential Inaugural Ball ticket sales when a mistake by Ticketmaster, the ticket vendor, inadvertently released tickets for both the inaugural ball and parade early, as CNN first reported.

Watch CNN's comprehensive coverage of President Barack Obama’s second inauguration on CNN TV and follow online at CNN.com or via CNN’s apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. Follow our real-time Inauguration Day live blog at cnn.com/conversation. Need other reasons to watch inauguration coverage on CNN's platforms? Click here for our list.

Washington (CNN) - The excitement among Americans for President Barack Obama's first inauguration appears to have diminished as he begins his second term, according to a new national survey.

And a CNN/ORC International poll released Monday morning also indicates that three out of every four Americans don't think the president's inauguration ceremonies will help bring a divided nation together.

Watch CNN's comprehensive coverage of President Barack Obama’s second inauguration on CNN TV and follow online at CNN.com or via CNN’s apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. Follow our real-time Inauguration Day live blog at cnn.com/conversation. Need other reasons to watch inauguration coverage on CNN's platforms? Click here for our list.

Barack Obama assumed the presidency four years ago on a day full of history and hope. The second time around there is less hype, far lower expectations, and no illusions about the capital's political climate.

Watch CNN's comprehensive coverage of President Barack Obama’s second inauguration on CNN TV and follow online at CNN.com or via CNN’s apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. Follow our real-time Inauguration Day live blog at cnn.com/conversation. Need other reasons to watch inauguration coverage on CNN's platforms? Click here for our list.

Washington (CNN) - As President Barack Obama begins his second term in the White House, a new national poll indicates Americans are divided on how things are going in the country.

Forty-nine percent of people questioned in a CNN/ORC International survey released Sunday say things are going very or fairly well in the country, with 51% saying things are going pretty or very badly.FULL POST

(CNN) – As the hours wind down to President Barack Obama's inaugural address, the White House says they see Monday's remarks as one in a series of speeches laying out the president's vision for his second term that started with his victory on election night.

The tone of Obama's inaugural address will be "hopeful," White House senior adviser David Plouffe told CNN's chief political correspondent Candy Crowley from the National Mall in Washington.

Watch CNN's comprehensive coverage of President Barack Obama’s second inauguration on CNN TV and follow online at CNN.com or via CNN’s apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. Follow our real-time Inauguration Day live blog at cnn.com/conversation. Need other reasons to watch inauguration coverage on CNN's platforms? Click here for our list.